Retail Theft Prevention-3 WC Blog 676
Stop Shoplifting – 4
Want To Stop Shoplifting? Then Don’t Take Half Measures In Your Security Strategy
When it comes to retail theft prevention there are some things that just drive this old L.P. guy bananas!
• Walking into a store, touring the entire floor and never being acknowledged
• Getting a sigh when I ask for assistance
• Dirty or Broken Public View monitors when I walk into a business
• Electronic Article Surveillance pedestals that are in obvious disrepair
• Merchandise in cardboard packages with lightweight plastic hang tabs on locking peghooks
• Employees who remove an item from a locking showcase and allow you to walk around the store with it
• Inconsistent merchandise tagging or use of anti-theft devices
• Fitting rooms with empty hangers, clothing tags and worn out clothes left in them
• Inconsistent merchandise tagging or use of anti-theft devices
I bring this up because my wife and I were shopping in a clothing store today and while she was looking at the purses I was looking at the security tags on the handbags. First, I didn’t recognize the tags or the symbols on them so I had NO idea what company they are using for anti-theft devices. Second, some bags were tagged and others were not. Being curious I thought that perhaps the store was tagging based on price point. It is a strategy I disagree with vehemently but I understand the thought process. In this instance price point was not the factor, purses could have tags and the same price point of another style was not protected. I shook my head and just followed my wife as she shopped. I have seen similar situations in the store I work at. We sell ink cartridges for printers and some are in protective plastic cases and others are not, even though the price points may be the same. It bugs me if you couldn’t tell.
What is it that influences one retailer to only take half measures in terms of retail theft prevention while another seems to go all out to stop shoplifting and theft? Having been involved in Loss Prevention for as long as I have been I know that cost can influence theft prevention strategies. The money spent on payroll to tag nearly every piece of merchandise a store carries can seem to be too expensive. Then there is the cost of electronic article surveillance tags and protective devices that are used. What is not always considered is that many devices such as the Sensormatic Flexible Safer are reusable over and over and over again. They are made of strong plastics that are intended to get extensive use. An expensive item such as an ink cartridge can be stored inside them so customers can look at the merchandise but cannot open the package. It takes a cashier with a Sensormatic detachment device to remove the merchandise and the Safer is stored until it is needed for the next load of freight that comes in. As far as the tagging and application of security devices it requires some time but if merchandise is protected as it gets on the floor and over time employees can get quick at the tasks. The other thing many store owners don’t consider is that as they stop shoplifting with a focused tagging program the shortage dollars go down and offset any addition money being spent on tagging efforts.
You may not be aware of this but I’m not the only one that goes into stores and makes judgements of how seriously that store’s management takes security. While it may sound like and oxymoron criminals can be very good at their craft. They evaluate your store the way I do and they look at the condition of equipment. They look at things like Sensormatic Flexible Safers and how they are used. If there are certain items not being tagged or protected in a Safer those are the pieces they will steal. Your retail theft prevention strategy will only stop shoplifting if an item is tagged or stored in a retail anti-theft device.
There are things that drive this old Loss Prevention Manager nuts and half measures in retail security strategies are on the top of my list. If you want to avoid being on my list or simply want help to improve your shortage reduction strategy talk to the folks at Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Their boss, Bill Bregar is a former Retail Loss Prevention Director for national retail chains. He can give you tips to stop shoplifting and improve your profit line. His business is helping YOUR business make more money and that is what you want too.
Get more information on retail theft prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When it comes to retail theft prevention there are some things that just drive this old L.P. guy bananas!
• Walking into a store, touring the entire floor and never being acknowledged
• Getting a sigh when I ask for assistance
• Dirty or Broken Public View monitors when I walk into a business
• Electronic Article Surveillance pedestals that are in obvious disrepair
• Merchandise in cardboard packages with lightweight plastic hang tabs on locking peghooks
• Employees who remove an item from a locking showcase and allow you to walk around the store with it
• Inconsistent merchandise tagging or use of anti-theft devices
• Fitting rooms with empty hangers, clothing tags and worn out clothes left in them
• Inconsistent merchandise tagging or use of anti-theft devices
I bring this up because my wife and I were shopping in a clothing store today and while she was looking at the purses I was looking at the security tags on the handbags. First, I didn’t recognize the tags or the symbols on them so I had NO idea what company they are using for anti-theft devices. Second, some bags were tagged and others were not. Being curious I thought that perhaps the store was tagging based on price point. It is a strategy I disagree with vehemently but I understand the thought process. In this instance price point was not the factor, purses could have tags and the same price point of another style was not protected. I shook my head and just followed my wife as she shopped. I have seen similar situations in the store I work at. We sell ink cartridges for printers and some are in protective plastic cases and others are not, even though the price points may be the same. It bugs me if you couldn’t tell.
What is it that influences one retailer to only take half measures in terms of retail theft prevention while another seems to go all out to stop shoplifting and theft? Having been involved in Loss Prevention for as long as I have been I know that cost can influence theft prevention strategies. The money spent on payroll to tag nearly every piece of merchandise a store carries can seem to be too expensive. Then there is the cost of electronic article surveillance tags and protective devices that are used. What is not always considered is that many devices such as the Sensormatic Flexible Safer are reusable over and over and over again. They are made of strong plastics that are intended to get extensive use. An expensive item such as an ink cartridge can be stored inside them so customers can look at the merchandise but cannot open the package. It takes a cashier with a Sensormatic detachment device to remove the merchandise and the Safer is stored until it is needed for the next load of freight that comes in. As far as the tagging and application of security devices it requires some time but if merchandise is protected as it gets on the floor and over time employees can get quick at the tasks. The other thing many store owners don’t consider is that as they stop shoplifting with a focused tagging program the shortage dollars go down and offset any addition money being spent on tagging efforts.
You may not be aware of this but I’m not the only one that goes into stores and makes judgements of how seriously that store’s management takes security. While it may sound like and oxymoron criminals can be very good at their craft. They evaluate your store the way I do and they look at the condition of equipment. They look at things like Sensormatic Flexible Safers and how they are used. If there are certain items not being tagged or protected in a Safer those are the pieces they will steal. Your retail theft prevention strategy will only stop shoplifting if an item is tagged or stored in a retail anti-theft device.
There are things that drive this old Loss Prevention Manager nuts and half measures in retail security strategies are on the top of my list. If you want to avoid being on my list or simply want help to improve your shortage reduction strategy talk to the folks at Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Their boss, Bill Bregar is a former Retail Loss Prevention Director for national retail chains. He can give you tips to stop shoplifting and improve your profit line. His business is helping YOUR business make more money and that is what you want too.
Get more information on retail theft prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
